Log-pilek



E. J. KEITH.

LOG PILER AND CLEARING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. 1 I919.

Patented Sept. 30,1919.

a I. w a r x r 1m r nlE cuLuMmA PLANGGRAPII cm, WASHINGTON, I). c.

EPHRAIM J. KEITH, 0F SIKESTON, MISSOURI.

LOG-FILER AND CLEARING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 30, 1919.

Application filed March 1, 1919. Serial N 0. 280,001.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EPHRAIM J KE1TH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sikeston, Scott county, and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Log- Piler and Clearing-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a log piler and clearing machine.

An object of the invention is to provide a log piler and clearing machine comprising a pile boom composed of two parts hinged together, mechanism for folding and extending the boom, and means supported by one of the parts of the boom for engaging a log or other object.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character mentioned with a piling boom composed of two pivotally united members, and cooperating mechanism for operating the members to position to be engaged with objects at va rious distances from the frame of the machine, and means for o erating the boom to raise and to move the o jects to desired positions.

Another object is to provide a machine of the character mentioned with novel mechanism for operating the boom and gripping devices in amore eflicient manner than is possible by machines now in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character mentioned with various novel and efficient mechanisms hereinafter described. In the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention Figure 1 is a side elevation of a part of a machine equipped with my present inven tion.

Fig. :2 is a view looking toward the end of the frame, the boom being shown in section. 7

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional View on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view showing'a part of the gripping mechanism.

The frame of the machine shown includes runners 1 supporting the upper frame structure 2. The frame is intended to support and contain the usual operating mechanism in. the form of an engine and drums (not shown) for operating the cables.

Within the frame an approximately up right mast 3 is located, the same having bearing at its lower end in ajournal member 4 and having bearing at its upper end in a journal member 5. A large wheel or pulley 6 is attached to the mast 3 near the lower end thereof and is wound around one or more times by a cable 7 whose ends are connected to a part of the usual operating mechanism, whereby the cable may be operated to turn the wheel 6 in either direction.

A boom member, which is composed preferably of two metal channel members 8 (Fig. 3) and connecting plates 9 bolted or riveted to the flanges of the channel members, has its lower end pivotally supported upon a support 10 carried by the wheel 6. It is apparent that the boom may be swung laterally in either direction to any desired position by simply turning the wheel 6 by operation of the cable 7. As shown, the boom member 8 is hollow, leaving room for operation therein of one of the cables as hereinafter explained.

Another boom member composed of channel irons 11 secured together by plates 12 bolted or riveted to the flanges thereof, has its upper end connected with the upper end of the boom member 9 by a pivoted or hinge connection 13. The boom member 11 operates within a guide and reinforcement composed of a. pair of beams 14 having their inner ends mounted on a support 15 carried by the boom member 8 and their outer ends supported from the upper end of the boom member 9 by a connection 16. Between the two sides of the boom member 11 a pulley or sheave 17 is supported. A cable 18 has one end connected to the outer end of the member 14, said cable being passed around the pulley 17 and thence over a pulley 19 at the outer end of the member 14, and thence between the two sides of the member 14 and over a pulley 20 supported by the boom member 8, and thence under a pulley 21 supported by the mast 3, and thence to the operating mechanism not shown) of the machine. The pulley 17 may be supported in different adjusted positions on the boom 11, said boom 11 having spaced holes 17 for receiving the pulley axles.

From the foregoing it is apparent that by winding up the cable 18 the boom member 11 may be raised and extended relative to the member 8 so as to lengthen thereacli of the boom. It is also apparent that by rais- 5 ing the boom member 8 and releasing the cable 18 the reach of the boom will be shortened or reduced, due to the fact that the lower end of the member 11 .will move nearer the machine. Thus, the two boom members may be manipulated to vary the reach thereof from a position very close to the machine to a position far away from the machine, the distance or length of the reach being limited only by the length of the boom 15 members.

7 The upper end of the boom member 8 may be raised by operation of a cable 22 provided for that purpose. One end of the cable 22 is attached to aConnection 23 near the upper end of the member 8, said cable then being passed around a pulley 24C mounted in a swiveled support 25 and thence around a pulley 26 carried near the upper end of the boom member 8, and thence 25 through a pulley 27 carried by a swiveled support 28 mounted on the upper part of the frame of the machine, and thence the cable 22 passes downwardly under a pulley like the pulley 21, and thence against a pulley 29'to the operating mechanism. From the foregoing it is apparent that by winding up the cable 22 the upper end of the boom member 8 may be raised, and that by releasing the cable 22 the upper end of the boom member 9 may be lowered by gravity.

the lower end of the boom member 11. In the form shown the gripping devices operate in the manner of lazy tongs, being composed of a pair of arms 30 pivoted upon a swiveled support 31 and each supporting a lever composed of two side members 32. The two levers32 are pivotally connected intermediate of their ends by a pivot 33 and at their lower ends said levers 32 carry engaging devices in-the form of prongs 34. As shown, the levers 32 are adapted to extend on opposite sides of a logor other object, and the engaging devices 34 are intended to be engaged with' such object, so that when the boom is raised the object will likewise be raised and may be swung laterally with the boom.

The engaging devices may be released' 5 from the object by spreading apart the ends 7 of the levers 32 for which purpose an operatingcable 35 is provided. One end of the cable 35 is connected to the pivot 33,

\ said cable then passing over a sheave 36 at the lower end of the boom member 11 and thence inside the boom member 11 to a sheave 37 supported on the pivot 13 by which the two boom members are united; and thence the cable 35 passes inside the boom member 8 to a connection with operat- The gripping devices are supported froming mechanism (not shown). Slight movement of the cable 35 in one direction will draw up the cable 35 and thus raise the intermediate portions of the levers 32, thereby spreading the lower ends of said levers 32 and releasing the engaging devices carried thereby from the log'or other object with which they may be engaged. The particular construction of the cable actuator is wholly immaterial and the same has not been illustrated for the-reason that the details of such construction may be varied, or the cable 35 may be otherwise operated'without departure from the invention, it being under.- stood that I do not restrict myself to any particular or specific form of operating device for said cable 35. i r

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a strong and efficient machine which entirely meets the purposes of as the invention. The extent of reach of the boom members may be varied as desired to engage logs or other objects close to the ma chine or at relatively a long distancefrom the machine as desired. 7

The operating cables for the most part are confined within spaces where they cannot readily become entangled or engaged with the work. Y 7

It will be apparent that the details of the invention may be widely varied without departure from the principle of the invention.

I do not restrict myself to unessential fea: tures of construction, but what I- claim and V desire to secure by Letters Patent, is '100 1. A machineof the character described, comprising a support, a boom member pivoted upon the support, means for raising the boom member, a second boom member pivoted to the first o-ne, a pair of spaced beams between which the second boom member is movable, and means in connection with said guide. for raising the second boom member to lengthen the extent of reach of the boom composed of said two pivotally united boom members. f f;

. 2. A machine of the character described, comprising a support, a boom member pivoted upon the; support, a second boom member pivoted to the first one, a pair'of spaced beams between which the second boom member is movable, means in connection with said guide for operating the second boom member'to move the free end thereof in a direction away from the first mentioned boonr member to lengthen the extent of reach of 1 the boom "composed of said twopivotally united boom members, and means for turn ing said support to swing the boom laterally;

3. A machine of the character described, comprising a support, a boom member pivoted upon the support, means for raising the boom member, a second boom member pivoted to the outer end of the' first one, a

pair of spaced beams between which the:

second boom member is movable, said beams being supported by the first mentioned boom member, means for operating the second boom member to move the outer end thereof in a direction away from thefirsit-mentioned boom member to lengthen the extent of reach of the boom composed of said two pivotally united boom members, engaging mechanism carried by the second boom member, and

from the first-mentioned boom member to lengthen the extent of reach of the boom composed of said two pivotally united boom members, and engaging mechanism carried by the outer end of the second boom member for engaging objects to be moved.

5. A machine of the character described, comprising a. frame, a support mounted in the frame, a boom member having one end pivoted upon the support, means in connection with the frame for raising' the outer end of said boom member, a second boom member having one end pivoted to the first one, a device pivoted to the first boom member for guiding the second boom member in its movements, a. connection for moving said device relative to said boom members, and a connection for swinging the outer end of the second boom member in a direction away from the first-mentioned boom member to lengthen the extent of reach of the boom composed of said. pivotally united boom members.

6. A machine of the character described, comprising a frame, a support mounted in the frame, a boom member having one end pivoted upon the support, means in connection with the frame for raising the outer end of said boom member, a second boom member having one end pivoted to the first one, a device pivoted to the first boom member for guiding the second boom member in its movements, a connection for moving said device relative to said boom members, a connection for swinging the outer end of the second boom member to lengthen the extent of reach of the boom composed of said pivotally united boom members, engaging mech anism carried by the outer end of the second boom member for engaging objects to be moved, and a connection for controlling said engaging mechanism.

7 A machine of the character described,

comprising a frame, a support mounted in the frame, a boom member pivoted upon the support, means in connection with the frame for raising said boom member, a second boom member pivoted to the first one, a guide for the second boom member pivoted to the first one, means for raising said guide, means for operating the second boom 11161111 ber in said guide to move the free end thereof in a direction away from the first-men tioned boom member to lengthen the extent of reach of the boom composed of said pivotally united boom members, engaging mechanism carried by the second boom member for engaging objects to be moved, and a connection for operating said engaging mechanism in any position of said boom members.

8. A machine of the character described, comprising a mast, a boom member having one end pivotally connected with the mast, a second boom member having one end pivotally connected to the outer end of the first one, a beam pivotally supported by the first mentioned boom member, a pulley supported by the second boom member, a pulley supported by the outer end of said boom, a cable having one end connected to the outer end of said beam and passing over said pulleys and being operable to swing the outer end of the boom member away from the first one, and a connection for raising the outer end of said beam.

9. A machine of the character described, comprising a mast, a boom member pivotally connected with said mast, a second boom member pivoted to the first one, a guide for the second boom member supported by the first mentioned boom member, means for operating the second boom member to move the free end thereof in a direction away from the first-mentioned boom member to lengthen the extent of reach of the boom composed of said two pivotally united boom members, and a connection for turning said mast to swing the boom laterally in either direction.

10. A machine of the character described, comprising a mast, a boom member pivotally connected with said mast, a second boom member pivoted to the first one, a guide for the second boom member supported by the first mentioned boom member, means for operating the second boom member to move the free end thereof in a direction away from the first-mentioned boom member to lengthen the extent of reach of the boom composed of said two pivotally united boom members, a connection for turning said mast to swing the boom laterally in either direction, and engaging mechanism carried by the second boom member for engaging objects to be moved.

11. A machine of the character described,

comprising a mast, a boom member pivotally connected with said mast, a second boom member pivoted to the first one, a guide for members, a connection for turning-said mast the second boom member supported by the to swing the boom laterally in either direc- 10 first mentioned boom member, means for tion, engaging mechanism carried by the operating the second boom member to move second boom member for engaging objects the free end thereof in a direction away to be moved, and means for operating the from the first-mentioned boom member to engaging mechanism in any position of the lengthen the extent of reach of the boom boom. composed of said tWo pivotally united boom EPHRAIM J. KEITH.

- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. O. 

